The station originally signed-on the air in 1986 playing an adult contemporary format as WAPO, taking the former call-letters of what is now WGOW-AM in Chattanooga. The station switched to an all gospel format around 1990, before changing owners and call-letters in 1993.

The station currently features weekday programming, the John & Heidi Show mornings with hosts John and Heidi Small from 6:00am to 10:00am Central Time. Maddy Jones and Maddy in the Midday from 10:00am until 2:00pm, and The B-Side With Joshua Wayne afternoons from 2:00pm until 6:00pm. Logan Carmichael covers news and local events and can also be heard on weekends, and the station features its own locally produced and hosted bluegrass show, Cold Mountain Bluegrass, hosted by Kyle Holland on Saturday mornings from 8:00am–10:00am Central Time. Sundays are dedicated to a variety of Southern gospel and various religious paid programming.

WTNW is also the flagship station for Marion County High School Warriors football broadcasts each fall.